Wrapping machine



NOV- 26, 1935. P. A. LAVERGNE Er AL 2,022,425y

WRAPPING MAGHNE Filed Feb. 23, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 @Mm mwm lm mu-Hh `II||II| |.|J e N/N A www .n o e mi /ME 70@ w MAJ T e Il U U M mm YM @mw .DI fw NOV- 26, l935- P. A. LAVERGNE Er Al.. 2,022,425

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ Patented Nov.l 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application February 23, 1932, serial No. 594,450

17 Claims.

This invention relates generally to machines for wrapping pies or like articles, with sheets of suitable wrapping material, such as Cellophane.

In wrapping pies or the like, it has been common to utilize a suitable sheet of wrapping material such as cellophane, of somewhat greater width and length than the diameter of the pie to be wrapped. 'This wrapper is placed over the top side of the pie and the edge portions turned over the lower side, about the periphery of the pie. The pie together with its wrapper is then placed on a paper or cardboard plate, which serves to retain the wrapper in proper position. It is obvious that to carry out such wrapping operations manually, without the aid of a machine, not vonly requires considerable time and labor, but may also cause mutilation of the pie. Furthermore, manual wrapping necessitates insanitary human contact with the pie, and it is also diicult to properly position the Wrapper in order to secure uniformly good results. v

It is a general object of the present invention to devise a machine for wrapping pies or the like which will minimize the manual labor required in such operations, and which will enable wrapping of a given number of pies in a minimum of time. The invention is further characterized by the fact that it enables uniformly grood results with respect to the manner in which the wrapper improve upon the means utilized for turning the edge portions of the sheets of wrapping material over the periphery of the pie being wrapped.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying, drawings. It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents consistent with the state of the prior art.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, illustrating a machine incorporating the present invention.

F18. 2 is a cross sectional detail taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional det-ail taken along the line3-3ofFig. 1. .l

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view in cross section 5 illustrating details of certain working parts of our machine;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational detail in cross section showing certain parts illustrated in Fig. in a different operating position. 10

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional detail taken along the Y line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 'l ls a side elevational view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating one of the pie engaging structures in cross section, and further illustrating the pie 15 engaging structures in open position with respect to each other.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 6, but illustrating certain working parts in a dierent operating position.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the modification illustrated therein comprises a pair of relatively movable structures I0 and II, adapted to engage opposite sides of a pie to be wrapped. A suitable support or base member I2 25 serves, in conjunction with other means to be presently described, to support structures I0 and II during their operating movements.

A suitable form for structure I0 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 4, 6, 7 and 8. It consists of a 30 body portion I3 of suitable material such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, which is annular in contour, and which is formed to provide an annular pocket I4. `Positioned within pocket I4 there is a pie engaging member I6, formed to provide an annular flange portion Il. Flange portion Il affords an inner peripheral bevelled surface I8, adapted to engage the peripheral edge of the pie to be wrapped, as illustrated in Fig. 4. For reasons to be presently explained, it is preferable to so secure member I6 with respect to the body I3, that the depth of the member I6 with respect to pocket I4 can be adjusted. For this purpose there is shown a screw I9, threaded into body I3, the inner end of this screw having a connection 2| with the central portion of member I6. Screw I 9 can be fixed in any desired adjusted position by a lock nut 22.

It may be explained at this point that in the operation of our machine, when a pie 24 occupies the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, a Wrapper 26 is interposed between it and the pie engaging member I5. As suitable means for carrying the peripheral edge portion of the wrapper 26 over the peripheral edge of the pie, while the 55 pie occupies a position with respect to structure II) illustrated in Fig. 4, we provide a plurality of blade or knife-like members 21. These members 21 are made of suitable metal, and are preferably sufficiently thin to afford a certain amount of resilience or give. For mounting these members, and for affording movement of the same between retracted and projected positions, each member 21 is shown having a pivotal connection 28 with a link 29. Each link 29 is in turn pivoted upon a pin or bolt 3|, carried by the flange portion 32 of body I3. The inner face of flange portion 32 is shown provided with an annular recess 33, serving to receive an annular ring 34. Ring 34 is free to Loscillate or rotate a certain amount in either direction with respect to the body I3. Each of the links 29 is also provided with a pin 38, projecting into a slot 31 formed in ring 34. Upon rotating ring 34- in one direction, say counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 6, links 29 are likewise caused to rotate in a clockwise direction, to project members 21 inwardly and in a general radial direction. It may be explained at this point that members 21 preferably have curved inner edges, so that in their projected position, they fit about the pie as shown in Fig. 7. It may be also explained that when members 21 are in their projected positions, and as they are being projected, they are free to align themselves about their respective pivotal connections 28. To properly retain members 21 and to protect these parts and associated elements, there is shown an'annular cover member 39, which is secured to flange portion 32 by suitable means such as the bolts 3 I. The inner peripheral surface 42 of cover member 39 is made divergent, to facilitate introduction of pies into pocket I4. Members 21 are shown provided with slots 43, so that bolts 3| do not interfere with their movements.

In order to eiect actuation of ring 34 which in turn effects projection and retraction of members 21 in unison, one of the links 29 is shown provided with a projecting lever portion 44, having a pivotal connection 46 with an actuating rod 41. Reciprocation of rod 41 causes oscillation of ring 34 between certain limits.

One suitable form for construction II is illustrated in detail in Fig. 4. In this case the structure incorporates magnetic means whereby it will function to attract and retain a tin plated steel pie plate. such as is commonly used in the baking of pies. Thus structure II has been illustrated as comprising an outer annular member I made of magnetic material such as steel, and an inner metallic disk 52 concentric with respect to member 5|, and likewise made of magnetic material. Spanning disk 52 and member 5| are a plurality of permanent electromagnets 53, in the form of hard steel bars capable of retaining considerable magnetism. The inner faces of member 5| and disk 52 are recessed to receive an annular member 54 of non-magnetic material, such as aluminum. The assembly is shown held together by screws 56 which serve to clamp member 54 and bars 53, upon member 5| and disk 52. Member 5| is shown provided with a flanged portion 51, of such dimensions that it will nt upon the bottom of a metal pie plate. Obviously members 5| and 52 being of magnetic material, constitute pole piecesfor the electromagnets 53, so that a metallic pie plateplaced upon structure I I will magnetically adhere thereto until manually removed.

For mounting structures III and II to the support I2, we have shown means including a stud lo and n.

shaft 6|, journaled within the head of support I2, by suitable means such as the ball bearing assembly 62. Fixed to one end of shaft 6|, there is an enlarged head.63, carrying webs 64. Webs 64 serve to carry the spaced parallel pivot pins 66, uponwhich the hubs 61 and 68 aremounted (Fig. 2) 'I'he axis of pivot pins 66 are substantially equidistant from and at right angles to the axis of shaft 6|. Mounted upon and extending forwardly from the hubs 61 and 68, are the support arms 69 and 1|. The forward ends of these support arms are suitably connected to structures For example, the forward end of arm 69 is shown attached to a lug 12 formed upon the body I3 of structure I0, while the forward end of arm 1| is shown attached to a lug 13, which in turn is connected to disk 52 by -suitablel means, such as screw 14.

By virtue of the fact that structures I0 and II are carried by arms-69 and 1|, which in turn can swing about the axis of pins 66, it is evident that these structures are free to swing apart or towards each other. In order to cause such movements to occur in unison, an arm 16 is shown iixed to hub 61 (Fig. 2). Arm 16 carries a pin 11, disposed within a slot formed in the end of another arm 18. Arm 18 is in turn fixed to hub 68,. Not only does the, interconnection between arms 16 and 18 cause structures I0 and I to move in unison, but they also cause these structures to be at Y all times in substantial symmetry with respect to Vune axis of shaft el.

To effect counter-balancing of structures I0 and II and also to aiord` means tending to retain these structures in either closed position (illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 1) or in open position (illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1) we provide a counter-balancing tension spring 8| as shown in` Fig. 2. 'One end of spring 8| is attached to the vend of an arm 82, fixed upon hub 68, while the `'structures Ill and in closed position, except for two angular positions with respect to the axis of shaft 6|. To accomplish this result, the head of support I2 is provided with a disk 86posisitioned concentric with respect to shaft 6|.r The periphery of disk 86 is provided with two radial slots 81, positioned 180 apart, and in a vertical plane (Fig. 3). Extending adjacent the periphery of disk 86, there is a iinger 88, which is fixed to hub 61. Obviously hub 61 cannot rotate, to permit movement of structures I0 and I I to open position, unless nnger 88 is in registry with one of the slots 81. To .provide for reciprocation of actuating bar 41, we preferably provide means operating automatically responsive to movements of the structures Il) and This bar 41 is shown pivotally connected to a lever 9|, which is pivotally carried by pivot pin 66. spring 92, connected between a lug 93 formed in structure II), and lever 9|, serves to urge lever A tension 9| in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in of structure Ill'tends to carry with it lever 9| the position illustrated in Fig. 4, vupon movement of these structures apart,v downward movement in a counter-clockwise direction. However, lever 9I is prevented from rotating by engagement with lug 96. Retaining lever 9I therefore remains stationary while structure I moves downwardly, thus causing ring 34 to be rotated a given amount, Ato project members 21. When structures IIIr and II are again moved to closed position, tension spring 92 serve s to cause relative inward movement of actua-ting bar 41 to cause members 21 to be retracted. In the event structures III and II are turned about the axis of shaft'SI, to any other position or positions, movement of the same apart to open position will not be accompanied by projection of members 21, due to the fact that lever 9| will rotate about its associated pivot pin 66.

While the machine described above is completely operative of itself, it is desirable to provide gauging means to facilitate proper positioning of a sheet of wrapping material. Thus we have shown a pair of gauge bars 98 suitably fixed to structure I0 by means of lugs 99. The ends of bars 98 are shown provided with forwardly turned end portions IUI. Rods 98 project at an angle from the inner face of structure I0, and are spaced apart equal distances laterally from the arm 1I. With the machine positioned as illustrated in Fig. 1, with structures I8 nd II in open osition, as illustrated in dotted lines, bars 98 assume an upright position.

Operation of our machine can be explained as followsz-Structures I8 and II are rst positioned as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, with structure III uppermost. A pie, together with a metal pie plate in which the pie has been baked, is positioned upon structure II. The operator then takes a sheet of suitable wrapping material, such as plain or moistureproof cellophane, and positions the same over the top of the pie. While the contour of the wrapper may vary, a square shape gives good results. The wrapper should of course be centralized with respect to the pie, and in effecting such centralization, the operator may contact the rear edge of the wrapper with the gauge bars 98. The operator then moves structures I0 and II to closed position, as illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 1. Following closure of structures I0 and II, they are rotated bodily about the axis of shaft 6I, to position structure I0 lower-most as shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 also shows position of the pie 24, and the positioning of the wrapper 26. It will be noted that in closing thestructures I0 and II upon the pie, the pie has been forced in pocket I4, until its edge rests upon the bevelled surface I8. Likewise the edge portions of the Wrapper have been caused to assume a position such as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The operator now again moves structures III and I I apart, and in effecting such movement, members 21 are automatically projected as has been previously explained. Projecting of members 21 serves to carry or turn the edge portions of the wrapper over the edge of the pie as shown in Fig. '1. When structures I9 and II are vmoved apart in that step of the operation `iust described, the lmetal pie plate adheres to structure II. The operator then places a paper or cardboard pie plate over the exposed portion of the bottom of the pie, care being taken to cause the corner and edge portions of the wrapper to v be retained between the cardboard pie plate and the bottom of the pie. The operator likewise reo simply by'applying manual force.

moves the metal pie plate from structure II, Following these operations structures I0 and Il are again moved to closed position, andv again inverted to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 1. Upon closing structures I0 and II, members 21 are retracted, and with the structures in the position illustrated in Fig'. 1, they can be opened to remove the wrapped pie from the structure .I I.

It is obvious from the above that our machine has many desirable characteristics., Its operation is relatively simple, requiring a minimum amount of labor, sothat a maximum number of pies can be wrapped in a given period of time. 'I'he ple is not mutilated during the wrapping operation, no insanitary human contactwith the pie is involved, and the wrapper is applied relatively smoothly and tightly with uniformly good results. In the event that the pies vary as to thickness, a compensating adjustment can be made by setting screw I9, so that the machine will receive a pie of a given thickness without mutilation. 'I'he self aligning character of the members 21 makes for tight wrapping, and also tends to minimize mutilation. 'I'he symmetrical arrangement oi' structures I0 and II with respect to the axis of shaft 6I facilitates turning of these structures about the axis of this shaft, with a minimum of effort, and the structures once positioned will remain in any given angular position required to carry out the mode of operation previously set forth. The fact that the structures I8 and II are caused to move in unison in symmetry with respect to the axis of shaft 6I, likewise makes it possible for an operator to effect opening and closing movements of the structures merely by applying manual force to the periphery of structure I 0, rather than to apply forces to both structures I 0 and II'. The provision of structure Il which is magnetic in character, makes it possible to introduce the pies together with the metal pie plates in which they are baked, although for the sake of simplicity if it is desired the magnetic character of structure II can be omitted and the pies first removed from their metal baking pans being introduced into the machine for a wrapping operation. However presence of the metal pie plate upon the pie at the time of introduction, is desirable as it tends to prevent crumbling of the edges of the pie. It is also possible to carry out the wrapping operation where it is desired to market the pies in the metal plates in which they are baked, in which event no paste-board plates are employed, and the metal plates :are not removed until the wrapping operation is completed and the metal plates have been repositioned upon the bottom of the pies, at which time the plates are removed together with the wrapped pies.

A further characteristic of structure II, particularly when it is magnetic, is that it facilitates centralization of the pie introduced into the machine. It may be pointed out that in place of employing magnetism for attracting pie plates to structure II, the force of pneumatic suction to engage opposite -sides of the pie, one of said structures including means for turning the edge portions of a sheet of wrapping material over the peripheral edge of the pie.

2. In a machine for wrapping pies or the like, a pair of relatively movable structures adapted to engage Opposite sides of the pie, one of said structures including means for turning the edge portions of a sheet of wrapping material over the peripheral edge of the pie, and means for effecting actuation of said means responsive to relative movement between said structures.

3. In a machine for wrapping pies or the like, a pair of relatively movable structures adapted to engage opposite sides of the pie, one of said structures including means for turning the edge portions of a sheet of wrapping material over the peripheral edge of the pie, and supporting means serving to permit inversion of said structures.

4. In a machine for wrapping pies or the like, a pair of structures adapted to engage opposite sides of the pie, one of said structures including means for turning the edge portions of a sheet of wrapping material over the peripheral edge of the pie, and means for mounting said structures for movement relative to each other and for rotation about a common axis.

5. In a machine for wrapping pies or the like, a pair of structures adapted to engage opposite sides of the pie, one of said structures including means for turning the edge portions of a sheet of wrapping material over the peripheral edge of the pie, means for supporting said structures for movement toward and away from each other and for rotation about an axis lateral to the general direction of said first named movement, and means for eiecting actuation of said rst named means responsive to relative movement between said structures.

6. In a machine for wrapping pies or the like, a pair of structures adapted to engage opposite sides of the pie, one of said structures including means for turning the edge portions of a sheet of wrapping material over the peripheral edge of the pie, means for mounting said structures for movement toward and away from each other and for rotation about an axis lateral to the general direction of said first named movement, and means for eil'ecting actuation of said iirst named means responsive to relative movement between said structures, said last named means being effective only when said structures are in a certain angular position' with respect to said common axis.

7. In a machine for wrapping pies or the like, a pair of structures adapted to engage opposite sides of the pie, one of said structures including means for turning the edge portions of a sheet of wrapping material over the peripheral edge of the pie, means for mounting said structures for movement toward and away from each other and for rotation about an axis lateral to the general direction of said first named movement, said axis being likewise substantially parallel to the plane of the engaged pie when saidystructures are in closed position upon the same, means for effecting actuation of said iirst named means responsive to relative movement between said structures in a direction away from each other, and means for rendering said last named means effective only when said structures are in one position with respect to said axis.

8. In a machine for wrapping articles such as pies, a support, a shaft journaled to said support,

spaans a pair of structures carried by said shaft, said structures being movable toward and away from each other and being adapted to engage opposite sides of the article to be wrapped, means serving to retain said structures in substantial symmetry with respect to the axis of rotation of said shaft, one of said structures including means for turning the edge portions of a sheet of wrapping material over the peripheral edge of the articles, and means serving to effect actuation of said last 1u named means responsive to relative movement between said structures.

9.Y In a machine for wrapping pies or the like, a pair of relatively movable structures adapted to engage opposite sides of the pies, one of said 1.'. structures including means for turning the edge portions of a sheet of wrapping material over the peripheral edge of the pie, and means carried by the other structure for releasably retaining a pie plate thereto. 2o

10. In a machine for wrapping pies or the like, a pair of relatively movable structures adapted to engage opposite sides of the pies, one of said structures including means for turning the edge portions of a sheet of wrapping material over the 25 peripheral edge of the pie, and magnetic means carried by the other structure for releasably retaining a pie plate thereto.

1l. In a /achine for wrapping pies or the like, a pair of yie supporting structures adapted to :lo engage opposite sides of the pies, means for mounting said structures for opening and closing movements relative to each other, and for movement to effect inversion of both said structures simultaneously, and magnetic means carried by one of said structures for releasably retaining a pie plate thereto.

12. In a machine for wrapping pies or the like, a pair of structures adapted to engage opposite sides of the pie, one of said structures including 40 wrapper folding means, and means for mounting said structures for opening and closing movement relative to each other and for rotation of said structures in unison about acommon axis, each of said structures being formd :to afford an in- 45 dependent support for the-pie.

13. In a machine for wrapping pies or the like, a pair of structures adapted to engage opposite sides of the pie, one of said structures including wrapper folding means, and means for mounting said structures for movement toward and away from each other and for rotation of both said structures about an axis lateral to the general direction of said first named movement, each of said structures being formed to afford an independent support for the pie.

14. In a machine for wrapping pies or the like, a pair of structures adapted to engage opposite sides of the pie, a 'iixed support, one of said structures including wrapper folding means, journal G0 means connecting said structures to said support, whereby both said structures can be simultaneously rotated about a common axis to eiect inversion of the same, and means interconnecting said structures whereby they can be moved away G5 and toward each other, in substantial symmetry with respect to the axis of said rotation and lateral thereto, each of said structures being formed to afford an independent support for the pie.

15. In a machine for wrapping pies or the like, 70 a support, a shaft journaled to said support, a pair of pie-engaging structures carried by said shaft, one of said structures including wrapper folding means, said structures being adapted to be moved toward and away from each other and 75 being adapted to engage opposite sides of a pie to be wrapped, each o'f said structures also being formed to afford an independent support for the pie, mechanism serving to maintain said structures in substantial symmetry with respect to the axis of said shaft, irrespective of their positioning relative to each other, and means serving to retain said structures in either open or closed position.

16. In a machine for wrapping pies or the like, a support, a shaft journaled to said support, a pair of pie-engaging structures carried by said shaft, one of said structures including 'wrapper folding means, .each of said structures being adapted to engage opposite sides of a pie to be wrapped, each of said structures also being formed to afford an independent support for the pie, means enabling movement of said structures toward and away from each other, means to maintain said structures in substantial symmetry with respect to the axis of said shaft, irrespective of their positioning, and counterbalancing means co-operatively associated with said structures.

17. In a machine for wrapping pies or like articles, a pair of relatively movable structures adapted to engage opposite sides of the article, 10

adjustable depth. 15

PAUL A. LAVERGNE. RENE J. GAUBERT. 

